Vocalist and A-ha frontman Morten Harket recently shared that he has Parkinson's disease.
The singer, age 65, shared his diagnosis on the band's website, which he said he had known about for some time.
He said that he was slow to tell the public the news because reactions to announcements like this can be unpredictable.
“Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn’t a problem for me; it’s my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me."
"I’m trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline."
Parkinson's disease is caused by a gradual loss of dopamine-producing cells in the midbrain, which creates a progressive, and inevitable, decline in the way that the brain coordinates complex motor functions. For example, it makes singing a lot more unpredictable even for non-singers, let alone a vocalist known for the complexity of his tone and range.
While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, there are many pharmacological and surgical treatments that help slow the progression of the disease.
Harket received one of those surgeries, undergoing electrode implants for Deep Brain Stimulation at the Mayo Clinic. This, plus advancements in pharmaceuticals, have slowed the disease a lot for Harket, even reversing some of the early signs of the disease.
The ongoing care for his overall function is a complicated balancing act, he revealed. He has not entirely been able to control his voice, a limitation of which he was surprisingly accepting.
“I was always meant to do different things, but I’ve ended up with a fairly permanent position as singer in a band. When I say that my identity isn’t about being a singer, that’s my direct response. It comes straight from the heart. People associate me with it, naturally enough, and I realize that."
"I see singing as my responsibility, and at certain moments I think it’s absolutely fantastic that I get to do it. But I’ve got other passions too, I have other things that are just as big a part of me, that are just as necessary and true.”
Fellow bandmate Magne Furuholmen posted his thoughts on Instagram after Harket's news went public.
Furuholmen, who had known for awhile, said that the news was painful, but also took a moment to reflect on how loved the band has been since their first giant hit, Take On Me, became globally famous in the '80s and catapulted the small Norwegian band to stardom.
He expressed gratitude for "how our combined creative efforts as a band have been so generously embraced by the world, and for how lucky we are that people continue to find meaning, hope and joy in our shared musical legacy."
Fans picked up on the tone of the post, which was sad but also hopeful.
@jessy_94_14/Instagram
One fan stumbled across an acoustic version of A-Ha's hit Take On Me from MTV Unplugged.
As A-ha has been known mostly for that hit, there was some inevitable discussion of one-hit wonders.
But Take On Me was just one of many songs that were beloved the world over.
People sent their condolences and talked about Harket's voice.
One fan remained hopeful about how advancements in medical technology might help Harket.
Around the world, nearly 10 million people are affected by Parkinson's disease.
@jimmyfallon/Instagram